Astros’ Porter big on teachable moments

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Shortly after Jonathan Villar sprinted in with the winning run on Trevor Crowe’s walkoff single Wednesday afternoon, Astros manager Bo Porter hugged his speedy young shortstop in the same manner a dad would embrace his child.

It had been less than 24 hours since Porter yanked Villar for a foolish running mistake during Tuesday’s 12-inning loss. Now Villar was rejoicing with his manager and teammates at Minute Maid Park after the Astros beat the Minnesota Twins 6-5.

“It was outstanding,” Porter said. “I went over, and I gave him a hug and told him, ‘I’m very proud of you.’ That’s maturity in less than 24 hours.

“A lot of guys would hang their head and say, ‘Poor old me — I got taken out of the game.’ He didn’t handle it that way at all. And I said just last night that I really felt like he was going to handle it the right way. And he came out today and literally showed that he handled it the right way. He took ownership of it and told me it will never happen again and that he understands where the scoreboard is. And he went out today and played great baseball.”

The season was lost long ago, perhaps as early as April. Yet the lessons continue almost daily as Porter attempts to establish a winning mentality and work ethic while correcting the kinds of gaffes often associated with young, inexperienced clubs like the Astros.

Just last week, Porter gathered his infielders and outfielders at U.S. Cellular Field and lectured them after Brandon Barnes threw to third base when he should have thrown to second. On Tuesday night, it was Villar’s turn for some tough love. He became the second player Porter pulled from a game early this season as punishment for a mental mistake.

L.J. Hoes also drew a dugout lecture from first-base coach Dave Clark after taking a poor route on a line drive to right during Tuesday’s 9-6 loss. By responding as they did in the series finale Wednesday, the Astros avoided a three-game sweep against the Twins.

The Astros held a 5-4 lead after eight, but Erik Bedard blew the save by giving up Ryan Doumit’s game-tying home run in the top of the ninth. Villar led off the bottom of the inning with a single to center, reached second on Jose Altuve’s sacrifice bunt, and scored on Crowe’s single to seal the victory before a crowd of 14,869.

“I told (Porter) I was going to keep playing my game,” Villar said. “Despite what happened yesterday, he likes for me to play aggressively … so that’s how I’ll play.”

At a time when players on most non-contending teams are planning their hunting and fishing trips, Porter has the Astros essentially fighting for places on next year’s roster.

No tanking allowed

“Many people can look at the number of losses or look at the amount of failure we have experienced as a ballclub,” Porter said. “Some people will basically just tank it in. That’s not going to happen with this group. It’s not going to happen on my watch or the rest of the staff. It’s just not going to happen.”

The Astros are in the midst of their fifth consecutive losing season and are on pace to finish with the worst record in baseball for the third consecutive year. But although they’re likely to surpass their loss totals from 2011 (106) and 2012 (107), there are reasons for optimism if the bullpen can be revamped and made at least serviceable over the winter.

At the same time, the Astros are young and raw. They’re learning on the job at the major league level, and kids are prone to silly mistakes at times.

Such was the case Tuesday when the speedy Villar foolishly attempted to stretch a leadoff single to shallow center field into a double in the third inning. He was still being called out by the umpire when Porter told Marwin Gonzalez to get ready to replace Villar.

“As a young player that’s aggressive, there’s going to be things which happen during the game that sometimes may warrant a conversation during that game,” Porter said. “It may warrant a conversation after the game. That was one of those situations where it was a no-brainer for me that he comes out of the game.”

With the Astros trailing 4-1 and Jarred Cosart laboring, Villar should have known not to risk an out in that situation.

On Wednesday, redemption was sweet.

‘All-Star potential’

“That was huge for him to get on right there in the ninth to lead us off,” Crowe said of Villar. “He’s a kid who really does have All-Star potential. You hear about five-tool players, but he’s one of those guys who can do everything. He’s putting it together. When it comes consistently together every day, he’s going to be a special player.”

Villar and his young teammates must learn, however, when to be more conservative.

“I know a lot of people may look at the number of losses, but I firmly believe that we’re learning how to win,” Porter said. “And when you go through this type of maturation and you have teachable moments and you have things that happen throughout the course of the year, all of these things are going to help us be a better baseball team moving forward.”